With a gym, golf course, football and volleyball pitches, there’s more to Ilaji Resorts than lodging and fine cuisine. Read Taiwo Obe’s travelogue here!
Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resorts – ensconced in the deep forests of Akanran, Ona Ara Local government of Oyo State – is not just gathering renown as an hospitality destination of choice in the Southwestern part of Nigeria because of it’s excellent location and top-of-the range services with a personal touch, it is also soon to be the Mecca of sporting activities with its state-of-the-art facilities, according to veteran journalist Taiwo Obe who spent 10 days at the facility.
Obe, founder of the Journalism Clinic, found the intriguing Resort suitable for a project requiring solitude and wrote an interesting travelogue about his experience, particularly about the dreams and aspirations of the Resort concerning sports.
Writing on his Twitter handle, @araisokun, Obe tweeted thusly:
I needed to be where only the chirping of birds would be the environmental sounds, if at all, to wrap up a job I had started during the Covidian lockdown. For 10-12 days.#Thread pic.twitter.com/SBjlC5mHnG
— Taiwo Obe (@araisokun) April 25, 2021
However, what ought to be a routine work in solitude led to an interesting discovery as Obe stumbled on the sporting dimension of the Ilaji Resort.
33. There are courts for volleyball, basketball, handball and tennis. During my visit, these amateurs were on the tennis court.
Practice, perfection, people. pic.twitter.com/Q9n7yOp4M0— Taiwo Obe (@araisokun) April 25, 2021
36. There's a swimming pool which was being cleaned during my visit another one, for VIPs, is under construction. pic.twitter.com/IaB35Miu6q
— Taiwo Obe (@araisokun) April 25, 2021
38. The five-a-side football pitch is nearing completion to host (inter)national competitions. pic.twitter.com/prgtdzlMlY
— Taiwo Obe (@araisokun) April 25, 2021
There’s also a full-fledged Academy on the Resort.
41. Mustapha Bolaji, a computer science graduate of LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, is Team Captain of Ilaji FC. Caught at the Ilaji Youth League, organised by Sanusi in 019, he told me: "Football is for the intelligent because you have to think for yourself & think ahead of your opponents." pic.twitter.com/B9XReDnvy6
— Taiwo Obe (@araisokun) April 25, 2021
Obe took time to watch the aspiring professional footballers sweating it out at training and also visited their hostels located within the expansive grounds of the Resort.
43. These ones stay in the hostel on the resort. Scores, still in school come in on Fridays. New hostels are being built. pic.twitter.com/TSQMht8saP
— Taiwo Obe (@araisokun) April 25, 2021
For the players, they have a dream: to play professionally in Europe. Their hopes are not misplaced after seeing two within their ranks signed on by a Maltese club.
45. There might be another for more to be selected as a 7-day scouting & coaching training holds at the resort from 1 May.https://t.co/y2CtFTmgsR
— Taiwo Obe (@araisokun) April 26, 2021
And, if you get to the Resort and found out you did not pack suitable sporting wears, do not despair. There’s a sports Shop on the premises to cater to your needs.
Why don’t you be like @araisokun and take that trip to Ilaji Resorts today?
